Sesshomaru looked at the teenager whose eyes burned with fervent light, felt the vibration of the sword in his hand, and the towering sword intent surrounding him, and could not help feeling a shock in his heart.
Was this the power that Li Xiangyi pursued... the power of protection?
Sesshomaru felt Li Xiangyi's momentum climbing step by step, feeling his surging power, and for the first time he tentatively began to ponder where ultimate power truly came from.
For the first time, he felt a trace of confusion: did acquiring Tessaiga truly mean obtaining greater power? For the first time, he also pondered the meaning of protection.
And precisely as he pondered, within his suppressed demonic body—unperceived even by himself—a blade truly belonging to him was slowly being gestated...
Having figured out what he needed to do next, Li Xiangyi hesitated no longer. He looked at Brother Sha, who was deep in thought, and made a request: "Brother Sha, I'm going to find someone to help collect the bodies. As for the child who survived inside, I must ask Brother Sha to keep an eye on him. I'm afraid the He Family's enemies might return... I would not feel at ease leaving my senior brother alone."
Sesshomaru snapped out of his thoughts, nodded, and did not refuse.
Seeing Brother Sha nod in agreement, Li Xiangyi felt completely at ease. He spurred his horse toward the mortuary town to ask people to come and collect the bodies...
Sesshomaru leaped onto the roof, sat down gracefully against the eaves, while Shan Gudao looked at Sesshomaru sitting on the roof, suppressed the thoughts in his heart, and softly comforted He Sanlang...
The group stayed in the place for three days, arranging for people to gather all seventy-seven bodies of the He Family. Aside from the family members, notices were posted for the remains of the hired help so their families could come and claim them.
The He Family had left behind some wealth. He Sanlang took out the greater portion of it and gave it to Li Xiangyi and Shan Gudao. For those whose families came forward to claim them, he had the two help provide funeral gifts; for those with no one to claim them, he had the mortuary buy coffins for burial first, vowing to return every year to donate incense money.
Everything was handled solely in the name of Shan Gudao and Li Xiangyi. When the Jianghu martial artists and the citizens of Kaifeng City heard of the matter, they sighed at the cruelty of the villains and the fact that not a single member of the He Family had survived, while also marveling at the great righteousness of the two heroes.
Once the matter of the bodies was settled, the group hurried toward Luoyang City. Over these past few days, He Sanlang had grown increasingly attached to Li Xiangyi and remained distant from Shan Gudao. Young as He Rui was, he was keenly sensitive to people's emotions; among the three, despite Sesshomaru looking the least approachable, the person He Sanlang actually feared the most was the endlessly gentle-faced Shan Gudao.
When Shan Gudao offered to let him ride horses together, He Sanlang nervously grabbed Li Xiangyi's sleeve. Seeing the dim look in his senior brother's eyes, Li Xiangyi gently explained, "Sanlang, my senior brother is a man of chivalry and honor. The other day, he was simply worried that the Yuntie might be intercepted by villains, which is why he spoke up to ask. He meant nothing else by it."
He Rui nodded, but still did not let go of his grip, merely murmuring, "I am very grateful to Hero Shan. I haven't misunderstood, but I... I still want to follow you, Brother Li."
Seeing this, Shan Gudao laughed openly. "Children simply prefer playing with older children. Xiangyi, since He Sanlang likes you, you might as well take him with you."
Li Xiangyi nodded, scooped He Sanlang up to place him onto the horse named "Zhuifeng", and spurred the animal forward toward Luoyang City.
After traveling for another half-month, the three finally arrived outside the gates of Luoyang City. Shan Gudao looked at He Rui sitting before Li Xiangyi in the saddle, then at Li Xiangyi, who was looking at the various street vendors with wide-eyed curiosity. His smile grew even more amiable and warm. Young as He Rui was, after half a month together—during which Shan Gudao had rendered much assistance—his gratitude toward the man still managed to outweigh his nameless fear. Seeing Shan Gudao smile at him, he returned the smile.
Seeing this, Shan Gudao spoke up, "Xiangyi, this is your first time traveling away from the mountain, and Brother Sha surely has no patience for socializing and networking. Luoyang City is bustling; why don't you and Brother Sha go take a stroll and buy some local Luoyang specialties? I will escort He Sanlang into the city, and we can rendezvous outside the city later."
Having followed Li Xiangyi down the mountain for over a month, Sesshomaru was slowly growing accustomed to days without using his demonic power, gradually viewing this mortal life as a path of refining his strength.
In this world devoid of demons and warfare, temporarily forgetting his responsibilities as the heir of the Western Country, and with Li Xiangyi accompanying him by his side, his state of mind had slowly grown peaceful. In the month or so he had walked among mortals, he could feel that the demonic power within his body had become even purer...
Hearing Shan Gudao's words, Sesshomaru glanced at the slightly uneasy human child on Li Xiangyi's horse. This cub was even younger than Li Xiangyi had been when they first met. With a rare hint of gentleness in his tone, he said, "No matter. Let's go together."
They had already reached the city gates, and since his senior brother was experienced in the Jianghu, escorting someone inside was certainly something his senior brother could handle alone. Li Xiangyi had originally intended to agree, but hearing that Brother Sha was actually willing to trouble himself with this human's affairs for once, he immediately nodded and said, "Senior Brother, let's take Sanlang to his maternal grandparents' home together first, and then we can go buy specialties!"
Upon hearing this, Shan Gudao bit down hard on his back molars, but knowing he could no longer press the matter, he nodded, and the three of them urged their horses into the city.
The Guo Family of Luoyang was a local merchant household whose estate was not particularly grand. The current head of the Guo Family was He Sanlang's maternal uncle, who had married the daughter of a Luoyang County magistrate. With this connection, the Luoyang Guo Family managed to maintain a firm footing within Luoyang City.
After the doorman announced their arrival, the party of four was welcomed into the reception hall. Before they could even be seated upon entering, a white-haired old woman hurried in, supported by a maidservant. The moment she caught sight of He Rui, tears instantly streamed down her face. Shaking off the maid's support, she pulled the child into a tight embrace, stroked the top of his head, and wept with a hoarse voice, "Oh, how cruel fate has been to my eldest daughter. My little Rui, is your mother truly gone?"
He Rui's eyes were also bloodshot. Looking at his grandmother who held him so tightly, he could no longer hold back and burst into loud sobs, while the Guo Family head, who had followed closely behind, also found his lap soaked with tears...
Seeing this scene, Li Xiangyi felt a pang of unbearable sympathy, and Shan Gudao wore a sighing expression. Only Sesshomaru sat down gracefully, picked up the tea offered by a servant, blew lightly at the rising steam, and took a gentle sip...
As the tea entered his mouth, the Great Yokai, unprepared for the taste, stiffened slightly. He calmly swallowed the tea, set the teacup down with absolute composure, and never took a second sip...
When the family members finally quieted their weeping, the elder head of the Guo Family wiped the tears from his face, walked before the three men, and bowed deeply. Shan Gudao hurried forward to support him.
The old head of the Guo Family spoke with heartfelt sincerity, "Thank you, three righteous warriors, for escorting my maternal grandson safely here. Our Guo Family is eternally grateful for this great kindness."
Shan Gudao helped the two elders up, his voice sincere. "It was merely a lift of the hand. For people of our background, upholding chivalry and justice is only right!" Hearing his senior brother's words, Li Xiangyi also nodded in approval.
The elder Guo stroked the head of the grandson standing beside him and said earnestly, "You young heroes speak of great righteousness, but escorting him through a half-month journey is hardly something that can be summed up as a mere lift of the hand. I beg you all to stay a few days, allowing our Guo Family to express our full gratitude!"
Upon hearing this, Li Xiangyi immediately declared, "Escorting him along the way was simply fulfilling our own chivalrous hearts. When one sees injustice on the road, one draws a sword to help—children of the Jianghu ought to act this way. Elder Guo need not stand on ceremony; we have matters to attend to, so we will take our leave."
Hearing this, He Rui hurried forward a step to grab Li Xiangyi's sleeve, speaking with urgency, "Brother Li..."
Hearing Li Xiangyi's words, Shan Gudao's gaze darkened slightly. He looked at He Rui and smiled, "Indeed, Sanlang, now that we have delivered you safely, we have fulfilled your father's dying wish. Take good care of yourself, and we will take our leave!"
At these words, He Rui sharply recalled his father's dying words and quickly blurted out, "Brother Li, the item my father spoke of on his deathbed is in—"
Li Xiangyi looked at his senior brother beside him, cutting him off before he could continue. "That was originally an item belonging to your He Family, and we harbor no covetous desires for it. Sanlang, if you truly wish to thank us, heed your father's words and live well. Do not let yourself be consumed by hatred; perform many good deeds and reap many good fruits."
He Rui looked up at the elder brother before him, nodded earnestly, his eyes shining brightly. "I will! I will surely become a person just like you, Brother Li!"
Li Xiangyi patted his head with a brilliant smile. "Then you'll have to work hard, because your Brother Li here intends to become a great man who stands tall between heaven and earth!"
Seeing their firm resolve to depart, the elder Guo couple knew it would be improper to press further. The elder Guo waved a hand, and the steward beside him stepped forward, presenting a stack of bank notes with both hands. The old master took them, handed them to Shan Gudao standing nearby, and said with deep earnestness, "This is a tiny token of our gratitude. I hope the righteous warrior will accept it, otherwise our hearts will truly remain ill at ease."
Seeing the offered bank notes—amounting to as many as three thousand liang—a murderous intent rose deep within Shan Gudao's heart. Yet, refusing to accept them, he maintained an appearance of utter brightness and uprightness. "We are not people who trade favors for rewards. There is no need for such thanks."
At that moment, Sesshomaru stood up. Reaching out with the hand of a prince who had never touched worldly matters, he took the bank notes. Ignoring Shan Gudao's stiffened expression, he casually shoved them into the front of Li Xiangyi's robes and said coldly, "I accept the reward."
With that, he lowered his head to look at He Rui standing beside him, pressed the index finger of his right hand against the boy's brow, and left behind a trace of Great Demonic Aura upon him. "Having accepted your reward, I will protect you this once."
Witnessing this action, Shan Gudao felt an involuntary shudder ripple through his heart the moment Sesshomaru looked back at the He Family's third son. He was struck by a profound and abnormal sense of shock, utterly baffled as to what kind of method this was.
His mind racing, Shan Gudao temporarily suppressed his murderous intent toward the Guo Family and He Rui. He could not rush things; he had to wait. It was not yet time to expose himself; he still needed to wait...
After the three left the Guo Family residence, Shan Gudao claimed he had an old friend in the area whom he needed to visit. Seeing that his senior brother wished to travel alone, Li Xiangyi agreed to stay in the city for three days and rendezvous outside the city gates at the fourth hour of the morning on the fourth day.
Watching his senior brother's receding figure, Li Xiangyi lowered his gaze slightly...
His purse had grown plump once more, and Li Xiangyi now possessed a vast fortune of over two thousand liang. He found an inn in the city named "Waterside Dwelling", booked two superior rooms, dropped off their luggage, and then dragged Brother Sha out to explore Luoyang City.
As noon approached, Li Xiangyi dragged Brother Sha toward the Crane Tower to taste the famous dishes of Luoyang...
Their timing was fortuitous, and a private room was still available. After the two sat down, a waiter beamed with a flattering smile, "Honored guests, our full Luoyang Water Banquet consists of twenty-four courses and we can prepare every single one. What would the two of you care to eat?"
Curious, Li Xiangyi asked, "Which twenty-four courses are they?"
The waiter was glib-tongued. "It's your first time coming to our Luoyang City, aren't the two honored guests? Eight cold dishes, four large warm dishes, eight medium dishes, and four grand finale dishes—cold and hot, meat and vegetarian, salty and sweet, sour and spicy are all represented. We have Dukang Drunken Chicken, Sauce-Fragrant Beef, Tossed Cucumber, Honey-Glazed Cashews, Peony Swallow Vegetable, Scallion-Braised Tiger-Head Carp... What would the guests like to try?"
Li Xiangyi had been completely whetted to hunger by the waiter's recitation of the dish names. Just as he was about to ask Brother Sha which courses he preferred, he heard Sesshomaru say in a low voice, "Bring them all!"
Hearing this handsome young gentleman's words, the waiter's smile froze for a moment. Believing he had misheard, he could not help cautiously asking, "Honored guest, the two of you... there are twenty-four dishes here. You want... you want them all brought out?"
Sesshomaru furrowed his brow slightly and looked at Li Xiangyi in puzzlement. "Can they not all be brought out?"
Looking at the confusion in Brother Sha's brows, Li Xiangyi patted the bank notes hidden in his robes, nodded with firm determination, and said, "They can! Waiter, bring every single one!"
Seeing that these two young gentlemen were so handsome and didn't look like diners who would try to eat a meal and skip out on the bill, the waiter stood stunned for a fraction of a second before breaking into a smile and saying, "Right away!" He scurried off happily to place the order.
What a big client...
After the waiter stepped away, Li Xiangyi looked at Brother Sha, who was growing increasingly accustomed to the mortal world, and once again solidified his resolve to work hard and earn bounty rewards! He definitely had to go check the bounty boards these next few days...
As ten of the twenty-four dishes were served, the waiter smiled and asked, "Two honored guests, would you care to try a pot of our local Dukang wine? It has a rich, mellow texture and a lingering fragrance—a fine wine you simply cannot taste anywhere else!"
The moment Li Xiangyi heard "fine wine," he recalled Sesshomaru's demeanor after getting drunk. His mind tightened instantly, and he replied with absolute finality, "No!"
Sesshomaru, however, was quite intrigued. He looked at Li Xiangyi, who had just refused, and the air pressure around his entire body plummeted instantly as he fixed his gaze steadily upon him.
Li Xiangyi forced out a smile, picked up a piece of "Luoyang Sliced Meat" with his chopsticks, and placed it in Sesshomaru's bowl. "Brother Sha, look, we've ordered all these special local delicacies today. Let's just focus on enjoying the food, so let's skip the wine, shall we?"
Sesshomaru remained silent, looking instead at the waiter. "Two jars!"
Just as Li Xiangyi was about to speak again, he caught the speculative glance Sesshomaru shot his way. "It's not as if we've never drunk wine before. Why are you so nervous?"
Li Xiangyi's heart skipped a beat. Remembering Brother Sha from that day, his face flushed red instantly. He let out an internal sigh of grief, yet dared not refuse again lest Brother Sha probe to the bottom of it. He could only force an awkward laugh. "N—nothing at all, Brother Sha. It's just that drinking harms the body; aren't I doing this for your own good?"
The speculative look in Sesshomaru's eyes grew even more intense, though he asked no further questions, lifting his chopsticks to eat the food in his bowl.
Sesshomaru's table manners were elegant, yet his speed was by no means slow—a pace that left Li Xiangyi utterly astounded. He couldn't help wondering briefly if perhaps he had been too poor in the past, which was why Brother Sha had never managed to eat his fill...
The Great Yokai's true form was enormous, so Li Xiangyi wasn't worried about him upsetting his stomach; he had no concerns on that front. However, as the waiter brought over the two jars of wine, Li Xiangyi snatched them up with lightning speed and placed them right beside his own hand, only occasionally pouring a cup for Brother Sha while gulping down the liquor from the jar cup after cup himself...
And truly, the Dukang wine tasted exceptionally good. As he drank, Li Xiangyi thought that when the time came to return to Yunyin Mountain, he simply had to buy several jars of this to bring back for his master to taste!